Julian Assange

Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, was born on July 3, 1971, in Townsville, Queensland, Australia.

In 1987, at the age of 16, Julian Assange became a skilled hacker under the pseudonym Mendax, known for his ethical hacking practices and sharing of information.

In 1989, Julian Assange and his wife Teresa had a son named Daniel. The couple later separated and had a custody dispute over Daniel until 1999.

The Australian Federal Police set up an investigation called Operation Weather to target The International Subversives.

In December 1996, facing a theoretical sentence of 290 years in prison, Assange struck a plea deal and pleaded guilty to 24 hacking charges including breaches of the Crimes Act.

In 1998, Assange co-founded the 'network intrusion detection technologies' company Earthmen Technology which developed linux kernel hacking with Trax.

Julian Assange founded WikiLeaks in 2006 as a platform to release sensitive or classified documents. The first publication in December 2006 included a message from a Somali rebel leader advocating the assassination of government officials.

In December 2007, Julian Assange found key supporters at the Chaos Computer Club conference in Berlin, including Daniel Domscheit-Berg and Jacob Appelbaum. This event marked a significant moment in the early stages of WikiLeaks.

Julian Assange won the 2009 Amnesty International New Media Award for his collaboration with the Sunday Times journalist Jon Swain on a report on political killings in Kenya. This recognition increased public awareness of WikiLeaks' publications.

WikiLeaks releases a leaked video showing a U.S. helicopter air strike that resulted in civilian casualties in Baghdad, including the deaths of two Reuters news staff.

WikiLeaks publishes over 91,000 secret U.S. military reports related to the Afghanistan war, shedding light on various aspects of the conflict.

Julian Assange arrives in Sweden on a speaking trip and stays at 'Miss A's' apartment. He attends a seminar and reportedly has sexual encounters with 'Miss A' and 'Miss W'.

Julian Assange attends a seminar on 'War and the role of media' in Sweden where he is the key speaker. Reports suggest he has a sexual encounter with 'Miss A' after the seminar.

Julian Assange reportedly has a sexual encounter with a woman named 'Miss W' in Sweden.

The Swedish Prosecutor's Office issues an arrest warrant for Julian Assange based on allegations of rape and molestation after consensual encounters turned non-consensual according to the women involved.

The arrest warrant for Julian Assange is withdrawn by Stockholm's chief prosecutors after doubts arise regarding the rape allegation. The investigation into molestation continues.

Julian Assange left Sweden for the UK on 27 September 2010 and was arrested in his absence the same day.

On 18 October 2010, Julian Assange's request for a Swedish residency permit was denied because his application failed to fulfill all the requirements.

A Swedish court issues an arrest warrant for Julian Assange over rape allegations, leading to his subsequent arrest in Britain and a legal battle for extradition.

On 30 November 2010, Interpol posted a Red Notice and put Julian Assange on its most-wanted list.

Julian Assange presented himself to and was arrested by officers from the Metropolitan Police Extradition Unit at Scotland Yard on 7 December 2010.

On September 2, 2011, Australia's attorney general, Robert McClelland, stated that the US diplomatic cables published by Wikileaks identified at least one ASIO officer, which was considered a crime in Australia. McClelland expressed concerns about the lack of redaction in the documents that could endanger individuals and national security.

After losing his final appeal against extradition, Julian Assange seeks refuge in Ecuador's embassy in London, where he remains for several years to avoid extradition.

On June 19, 2012, Julian Assange applied for political asylum at the Ecuadorian embassy in London. This decision was influenced by concerns about extradition to the United States and marked the beginning of his extended stay at the embassy.

On August 16, 2012, Ecuador announced that it was granting Julian Assange political asylum due to the perceived threat from a secret US investigation. This decision provided Assange with protection from potential extradition and prolonged his stay at the embassy.

On 19th August 2012, Julian Assange appears on the Ecuadorian embassy balcony, calling for an end to the US government's pursuit of WikiLeaks.

In June 2013, Julian Assange expressed concerns that the US was moving to extradite him. Despite the withdrawal of the arrest warrant for sex offence claims, he stated that he would not leave the embassy.

In July 2013, Julian Assange founded the WikiLeaks Party. The party performed poorly in the Australian general election in September 2013, capturing less than 1 percent of the national vote and failing to win any seats in the Senate.

Julian Assange appeared via video link at a town hall meeting in Auckland while campaigning for Kim Dotcom. He discussed the 'Operation Speargun' surveillance program and how he was targeted by it.

On July 3, 2015, Julian Assange published an open letter to French President François Hollande requesting refugee status in France, which was declined by Hollande.

On 12 August 2015, Swedish prosecutors announced that the statute of limitations had expired for three of the allegations against Julian Assange while he was in the Ecuadorian embassy.

The inquiry into the sexual molestation and unlawful coercion allegations against Julian Assange is dropped due to a legal time limit, but the more serious rape allegation remains active.

The Foreign Office accuses Ecuador of obstructing justice by providing Julian Assange with a safe haven.

After three years and significant costs, the police call off their 24-hour watch outside the embassy where Julian Assange was residing.

The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention supports Julian Assange's legal team's appeal, declaring that Assange is being 'arbitrarily detained' at the embassy.

Prosecutors announce they are working on a new request to interview Julian Assange inside the embassy regarding the rape accusation.

From October 15 to December 2016, the Ecuadorian government severed Julian Assange's internet connection due to election interference concerns.

Julian Assange tweets that he will agree to US extradition if President Obama grants clemency to Chelsea Manning, despite the unconstitutionality of the Department of Justice case.

The government formally asks the UN to review its 'deeply flawed' conclusion that Assange is being 'arbitrarily detained'.

The new US Attorney General, Jeff Sessions, declares that arresting Julian Assange is a top priority.

After years of legal battles, Sweden's prosecutor announces the dropping of the rape case against Julian Assange, stating that all possibilities to conduct the investigation are exhausted.

On June 6, 2017, Julian Assange expressed solidarity with NSA leaker Reality Winner, who had been arrested recently. Assange's tweet emphasized the importance of encouraging non-elite sources to share information.

Ecuador confirms Sweden has put in a formal request to enter the embassy and interview Assange.

Sweden's court of appeal receives an appeal that argues it must comply with the UN assertion that Assange is being illegally deprived of his liberty.

Assange will be questioned inside the embassy, Ecuador confirms.

On August 16, 2017, US Congressman Dana Rohrabacher visited Julian Assange and reportedly discussed a potential pardon from President Trump in exchange for denying Russian involvement in the 2016 DNC email leaks.

Sweden rejects the bid to get an arrest warrant dropped, saying nothing has changed.

Swedish authorities get their chance to put questions to the WikiLeaks founder during a two-day interview at the embassy.

Former UKIP leader Nigel Farage is claimed to have been making secret trips to the embassy to visit Julian Assange. It is alleged that he slipped a USB stick containing data to Assange. The claim was made by Fusion GPS boss Glenn Simpson.

A letter is published on WikiLeaks claiming to be an invitation for Julian Assange to appear before the US Senate committee investigating Russian interference in the US presidential election. Both the US embassy and the Senate committee refused to comment.

Assange takes legal action against Ecuador for violating his rights and freedoms after they cut off his communications and internet access.

Magistrates in Quito decide that Assange's legal action against Ecuador cannot proceed.

Assange is named in a court filing in Virginia related to a case involving coercion of a minor for sex, with the charges to be unsealed upon his arrest.

Ecuador's foreign affairs minister refutes claims that Assange would be expelled from the embassy within hours.

Following the withdrawal of asylum by Ecuador on April 11, 2019, British police entered the embassy and arrested Julian Assange. Despite no longer being under investigation in Sweden, he faced charges in the UK and an extradition request from the United States for computer-related offenses.

Assange appears at Westminster Magistrates Court via videolink from Belmarsh Prison to fight extradition to the US over allegations of conspiring to break into a Pentagon computer. He defends his actions as journalism that has received awards.

Actress Pamela Anderson expresses her love and support for Assange after meeting him at Belmarsh prison. She advocates for his release, stating he is innocent and does not deserve to be in a super-max prison.

On May 23, 2019, a US grand jury added 17 espionage charges against Julian Assange, bringing the total federal charges to 18. These charges were related to Assange's involvement with Chelsea Manning and WikiLeaks, escalating the legal pressure on him.

On June 20, 2019, El Pais revealed the existence of surveillance recordings and reports about Julian Assange conducted by UC Global in the Ecuadorian embassy. This revelation brought to light the extensive monitoring of Assange's activities.

Spain's High Court opened proceedings on August 7, 2019, to investigate the surveillance of Julian Assange after he filed a complaint against UC Global. The court inquiry focused on privacy violations, client-attorney privilege breaches, and other alleged illegal activities.

Assange appeared for a case management hearing at the court where he expressed concerns about the unfair advantages the prosecution had over him due to their unlimited resources and access to his writings.

Julian Assange appears at Westminster Magistrates' Court with the support of numerous backers, including rapper MIA.

A court hears that President Trump allegedly offered Julian Assange a pardon in exchange for denying Russian involvement in the leak of Democratic Party emails.

Julian Assange faces an extradition hearing at Woolwich Crown Court where his legal team argues against his extradition to the US for what they claim are 'political offences' based on a 2003 treaty.

Amid the coronavirus crisis, Julian Assange appears via video link at Westminster Magistrates' Court where he is denied bail.

Assange appeared in court facing an espionage indictment with 18 counts. He was warned by Judge Baraitser not to interrupt proceedings.

Judge Baraitser ruled that Assange could not be extradited to the United States due to concerns about his mental health and the risk of suicide in a US prison.

On January 6, 2021, Julian Assange was denied bail due to being considered a flight risk pending an appeal by the United States.

On January 15, 2021, US prosecutors appealed against the denial of extradition of Julian Assange.

On December 10, 2021, the High Court ruled in favor of the United States for Julian Assange's extradition, stating that the judge would have answered differently if certain assurances were presented.

Julian Assange wins the initial phase of his Supreme Court appeal against a ruling allowing his extradition to the US.

On February 9, 2022, an NFT artwork auction organized by Pak in collaboration with Julian Assange raised funds for his legal defense.

Julian Assange is refused the right to appeal the High Court's decision from December 2021 to extradite him to the US, as confirmed by the Supreme Court.

Julian Assange ties the knot with his partner at Belmarsh prison, with their children and family members present. The bride wears a gown by Dame Vivienne Westwood.

On April 20, 2022, Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring approved the extradition of Julian Assange to the US.

On June 17, 2022, Home Secretary Priti Patel approved the extradition of Julian Assange.

On December 13, 2023, Julian Assange's appeal to the European Court of Human Rights was declared inadmissible.

On 14 February 2024, the Australian House of Representatives passed a motion calling for Julian Assange's immediate release and return to Australia, with support from various political parties and crossbenchers.

Assange's legal team initiates a last legal attempt to prevent his extradition to the United States at the High Court in Britain.

On March 26, 2024, a UK court ruled that Julian Assange cannot be extradited to the US on espionage charges until the US rules out the death penalty.